LUKE Offord's own goal at the Stadium of the Light leaves Crewe still looking for their first point on their travels this season.

Crewe have never won at Sunderland and for long periods of this game it didn't seem like that was a stat that would change.

Fancied for promotion by stature perhaps more than their efforts to get out of the third tier over the last two campaigns, the Black Cats gave their visitors a first-half mauling.

Crewe appeared to have weathered the storm to reach the break on level terms, but in first-half stoppage time youngster Offord was under pressure in the box as Lynden Gooch flung the ball in. While Charlie Wyke appeared favourite to apply a header it was Offord who inadvertently planted it past Will Jaaskelainen.

Crewe made one change from the Blackpool starting XI with Oli Finney coming into midfield for Callum Ainley. Like in the weekend game they found possession hard to come by.

Jaaskelainen saved from Max Power while Chris Maguire twice blazed chances wide and high.

After the restart Finney had a great opening after Charlie Kirk slipped him in, but the midfielder wasted the shooting chance inside the box by taking an extra touch.

Sunderland should have doubled their lead before the hour mark with Power guilty of a bad miss. When Hume cut the ball back to Wyke the striker's shot was blocked but it fell nicely for the former Tranmere and Wigan midfielder who blazed over from close in.

Home defender Bailey Wright was wayward when planting over a set-piece header from just yards out and Jaaskelainen beat away a Gooch effort in the closing minutes as Sunderland looked more likely to add to their first-half goal than Crewe to level.

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